Extensible boom structure



w. MuNz April 15, 1969 EXTENSIBLE BOOM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 3, 1967 INVENTOR WERNER MUNZ AGENT United States Patent O 3,438,509 EXTENSIBLE BOOM STRUCTURE Werner Mnnz, Alientown, Pa., assigner to Ingersoll-Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 659,532 Int. Cl. B66c 23/62 U.S. Cl. 212--145 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Extensible boom structure having horizontally telescoping members which carry vertically disposed, relatively movable, coaxial members. A single power cylinder coupled therebetween effects both horizontal movement of the first members and vertical movement of the second members.

This invention pertains to extensible boom structures for machines or the like, and especially to such boom structures which carry coaxially disposed members which are capable of relative movement therebetween.

Extensible boom structures of the type to which reference is made are known in the prior art, and have first power means for extending the boom, and a second separate and distinct power means for effecting the relative movement between the coaxially disposed members. Therefore, the prior art extensible boom structures provide for horizontal extension, and then vertical translation of the carried members, by means of two power devices, the vertical translation being provided for the raising and lowering of a `drilling head, `an Outrigger member, or the like.

Necessarily, the duplication of power meanstwo hydraulic rams, or whatever-involves a duplication of cost. Also, such arrangements require the deployment of long pressurized-fluid lines-a pair yof lines to the first horizontal power device, and a pair of lines to the second vertical power device.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extensible boom structure, having a first plurality of members disposed for relative translation therebetween along a first axis, and at least a second plurality of members disposed for relative translation therebetween along a second axis, having but a single power means for effecting both said first and second axial translations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extensible boom structure lhaving pluralities of members disposed for relative movement therebetween, along different axial planes, with means for arresting, and power means for causing said movements, both said means being cooperative for causing said movements to occur in only one of said pluralities and, selectively, in only another of said pluralities.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extensible boom structure, having a first plurality of members disposed for relative translation therebetween along first axis, a second plurality of members disposed for relative translation ytherebetween `along a second axis, and a third plurality of members disposed for relative translation therebetween along one of said first and second axes, having but a single power means for effecting said first, second, and said one axial translations.

A feature of this invention comprises the use of first telescoping members which carry second, coaxially arranged members disposed for relative ,movement therebetween, and a single power cylinder coupled between said iirst telescoping members and said second coaxial 3,438,509 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 rice members to effect both said telescoping and said relative movements thereof.

Further yobjects and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following `description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical illustration of the extensible boom structure according to the invention, the boom structure shown with a machine disposed in retracted position in the fully lined illustration, and in an arbitrarily extended position, in the phantomed or dotted-line illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical illustration of the novel boom structure with the second, coaxially arranged, relatively movable members in a position denoting relative translartion of one of the members thereof Iwith respect to the positioning represented in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical illustration of an alternate embodiment of the novel boom structure, according to the invention.

As `shown in FIGURE l, the novel boom structure is shown generally by index number 10, mounted to a machine 12 shown symbolically, the machine having means for the attachment thereto of a hollow support member 14. Member 14 carries therewith a first translating member 16. At the terminal `end of member 16 is a housing 18, here shown vertically disposed, which carries a slidable second translating member 20. Housing 18 is secured to member 16 by welds shown generally at 22. A power means is represented by -a power cylinder 24 shown disposed 'beneath member 14. The nonst-roking end of the cylinder is supported at a pivot-anchor point 26 to member 14. Piston rod 28 projecting from cylinder 24, is coupled to a first arm 30 of a bellcrank by means of pivot coupling 32. The first arm 30 is pivotally mounted, by means -of pivot coupling 34, to the first translating member 16. The second arm 36 of the bellcrank is coupled between pivot coupling 34 and a link 38. The second arm 36 and link 38 are joined by means of pivot coupling 40. A blocking pin 44 is received in bore 46 formed in second translating member 20. As can be better seen in FIGURE 2, first translating member 16 also has a -bore 48 formed therein which, with member 16 having been translated to a given position, is coaxially juxtaposed with a bore 50 formed in supporting member 14, bores 48 and 50 also being provided to receive blocking pin 44. At the terminal end of member 20 is mounted a support 52, in that this embodiment teaches the use of this novel boom structure for Outrigger usage. Clearly the `structure here being described can function equally well for the extending and vertical translation o-f a drilling head or any other device.

Power cylinder 24 has formed in the side thereof ports 54 to which pressurized uid can be addressed for the actuation thereof. The pressurized uid input and cxhaust and the reservoir or source thereof, together with control means therefor, are not shown. The-se elements are well known in the art and are not germane to the present invention.

In operation, my novel boom structure employs a sole power means, the same being power piston 24 to move member 16 horizontally, and to move member 20 vertically. FIGURE 1 shows, in the fully lined drawing, the disposition of my novel boom structure when the machine to which it is attached is prepared for tramming, if the machine should have rubber tired wheels or crawler-type running gear. Si-mply, the boom structure is retracted, awaiting application and use, while any desired use may be made of machine 12 unencumbered by `an extended boom structure. The blocking pin 44 is disposed in bore 46 to prohibit any inadvertent vertical movement of member 20. When the machine is moved to, and located at a site where it is to be used, the novel boom structure is put into operation, to set outrigger feet, or to raise and lower a drilling head, or whatever. Control means (not shown) actuate power piston 24 to cause the piston 4rod 28 to tbe stroked outwardly. This causes an extending translation of tirst translating member 16 relative to member 14, as shown in the phantomed view in FIG. 1. When the member 16 is moved as far as desired or required, lblocking pin 44 is removed from bore 46 and placed in coaxial and juxtaposed bores 48 and 50, as seen in FIG. 2. Accordingly, member 16 is locked in position and cannot be translated further thereafter.

In this preferred embodiment of Imy invention is taught the use of coaxial and juxtaposed bores 48 and 50, only one of each being shown. Clearly, a num-ber of bores, such as that of bore 48, can be formed in member 16 to facilitate the locking of member 16, relative to member 14, at a number of indexing positions. This involves the simple matter of choice.

My invention contemplates the use of means for selectively arresting the axial translations of members 16 and 20. Only l'by way of example do I set forth the use of a blocking pin as an arresting member, cooperative with bores 48, 50, and 46, to that end. Other means might well serve the same end--means such as detents, latching pawls, and the likeall within the spirit of my invention, it remaining only to arrest said translations to practice my teaching.

Next, after arresting member 16, power piston 24 is actuated so as to retract piston rod 28 and cause a pivoting of bellcrank arms 30 and 36 about pivot coupling 34. The result of this is to cause a translation of member relative to housing 18. If used in an Outrigger application, a foot 52 will come to rest on the ground level. Further retraction of piston rod 28 will cause the machine 12 to be elevated from its position as a result of support 52 bearing against the ground level while member 20 exhibits further translation relative to housing 18. If used to carry a drilling head, translation of member 20 will cause drill rods extending from the drilling head to address the ground.

Reversal of the aforegoing procedure will again stroke the piston rod 28 outwardly, until the boom structure reassumes the position shown in FIGURE 1 in phantomed outline. Blocking pin 44 is then removed from bores 48 and 50 and reinserted into bore 46 so as to lock member 20 relative to the housing 18. Finally, piston rod 28 is again retracted toward power cylinder 24 to translate member 16 relative to member 14 and to close housing 18 on, i.e., retract it against, the machine 12.

The teaching of my disclosure is the use of a single power means to eifect both horizontal and vertical translation of an extensible boom.

Now, this beneficial economy of power would be lost if it were required that a given-directioned stroke of the piston rod 62 be used to effect both the horizontal and vertical translations or movements. That is, little advantage would be realized in a single power means device over a dual power means device if the stroke of the piston rod 62 could only do some of the work of two independent rods. Accordingly, my invention teaches how to use a full, given-directioned stroke of piston rod 62 to eect movement in only one plurality of members (14, 16), and in a given axial plane, and the retraction stroke, or reciprocal movement thereof to effect movement in only another plurality of members (16, 18), and in a different axial plane. The cooperation of blocking pin 44, of course, makes this possible, and retains the displacement of the one movement while the other movement is being eiected.

As used in connection with Outrigger arrangements for a machine, for example, my invention can easily be applied to a pair of oppositely disposed Outrigger members. The structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 will serve this function. Thus, a single power cylinder 24 is all that is required for each Outrigger member. Yet, in another embodiment, it is a teaching of my invention to use a single power means to operate a pair of oppositely disposed Outrigger members. In this, the single power cylinder is fixed at one end thereof to the bellcrank of one Outrigger member, and has the piston rod extending therefrom fixed to the bellcrank of the opposite Outrigger member.

This other embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 3, has a power piston 56, the nonstroking end thereof being mounted, by means of pivot coupling 58, to a first bellcrank 60. Piston rod 62 is pivotally coupled to a second bellcrank 64- by pivot coupling 66. By stroking piston rod 62 both bellcranks 60 and 64 are rotated and cause the translation of both members 16 and 20, with respect to member 14' and housing 18, in the manner just described with respect to the structures of FIGURES 1 and 2.

In addition to the advantages earlier cited, my invention, applied to any application, offers single control of oppositely disposed, vertically translatable members, while featuring an inexpensive, rugged construction. It is particularly to be noted that member 14 (and 14') provides excellent protection for the power cylinder 24 (and 56). In specific application to Outrigger arrangements, my invention offers the further advantages of true vertical motion of the ground supports, eliminating the sideways digging in soft ground practiced with prior art lever-type outriggers; obviates the difiiculty arising from the known method of manually sliding out the outriggers; and provides for both an adjustable overall width, an adjustable stance, to meet different citing arrangements, and insures greater stability, while assuring a narrow, overall lateral dimension for tramming of an associated machine.

While I have described my invention in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example.

I claim:

1. An extensible boom structure for a machine, comprising:

a first plurality of members disposed for relative movement therebetween along a rst axial plane;

at least a second plurality of members coupled to said first plurality of members disposed for relative movement therebetween along a second axial plane;

means engageable with said pluralities for selectively preventing said relative movement between the members of said first plurality, and for selectively preventing said relative movement between the members of said second plurality; and

single power means, for causing said relative movements, comprising a reciprocating rod coupled to said pluralities;

wherein engagement of said preventing means with one of said pluralities, and movement of said rod fully in one direction, causes movement to occur in only the other of said pluralities; and

engagement of said preventing means with said other plurality, and movement of said rod in the reciprocal direction, causes movement to occur in only said one plurality.

2. The invention,

including:

a third plurality of members, disposed for relative movement therebetween along one of said first and second axial planes, coupled to said single power means.

3. The invention, according to claim 1, wherein: said preventing means comprise discontinuities formed in the surfaces of said members of said rst plurality.

4. The invention, according to claim 1, wherein: said preventing means comprise discontinuities formed in surfaces of at least one member of said second plurality.

5. The invention, according to claim 3, wherein: said discontinuities comprise at least one hole formed in each of at least two members of said plurality; and said preventing means include means for retaining said holes in coaxial juxtaposition.

according to claim 1, further 6. The invention, according to claim v1, wherein: one plurality of said rst and second plurality of members comprise a rst elongate member, and a second elongate member coaxial therewith; and another plurality of said first and second pluralities of members couples both said rst and second elongate members to said machine, said another plurality disposing said both said rst and second members vis-a-vis said machine for relative translation therebetween.

7. The invention, according to claim 6, wherein: said rst elongate member comprises a rst housing; said second member is disposed therein; and said another plurality comprises third and fourth coaxially disposed elongate members.

8. The invention, according to claim 7, wherein: said third member comprises a second housing; said fourth member is disposed therein; and said first housing is xed to said fourth member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007,717 11/1961 Noly 212-145 3,262,582 7/1966 Pitman 212-145 3,373,993 3/1968 Oja 212--145 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

